Graveside services will be held for Elmont “George” Sutton at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, at Calvary Church Cemetery in Bogue Chitto.

Elmont passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Tuesday evening, April 2, 2013 in Fresno, Calif. He was born June 12, 1928 in Bogue Chitto and was the youngest son of P.C. Sutton and Lela Smith Sutton. Elmont grew up in Bogue Chitto and Wisner, La., but stayed in California after coming there with his family in the 1940s. He joined the army in 1946 and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash.

In 1950, he married Patricia Ann MacLachlan in Yuma, Ariz. and they raised one daughter in the “South Bay” area of Southern California. That same year he went to work at Douglas Aircraft in Torrance, staying with them over 41 years through their merger as McDonnell Douglas and later to Boeing. He was respected at work and recognized as a supervisor who would “get his hands dirty” in order to help. Elmont, or “George”, as he was known by friends and co-workers, earned the name “Road Map Sutton” because of his ability to remember every fork in the road, gas station or roadside cafè along highways.

In 1991, he and Patricia retired to Fresno to manage a mobile home park for family. There he remained active until a few years ago when his health started to fail. He enjoyed camping and fishing, spending a great deal of time at lakes and rivers in the Sierras. He loved to watch sports with football, baseball, boxing, rodeo and horse racing being among his favorites. Elmont played sports through work teams and tournaments, winning trophies in softball, golf and bowling. In the army, he won several awards for boxing.

Elmont loved to play guitar, harmonica and sing. He could chat with anyone about anything and was well liked by those who knew him. To his grandson, Brian, he was known as “Pop” and helped to coach his little league teams when he played.

Elmont was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Patricia; his parents; his sisters, Mona Knee and Marie “sister” Lindsay; and his brothers, Ralph Sutton, TJ “Bob” Sutton, Devo Sutton and Rudolph “Rudy” Sutton.

He is survived by his daughter, Kathleen “Kathy” Diaz; his grandson, Brian Diaz; his brother, Albert “Peanut” Sutton of Bogue Chitto, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He will forever be loved and missed.